OT: Despair

[Baron Munchausen]

And today the topic of Schizophrenia has come up on Slashdot. Quote:

jagercola@ignmail.com asks: "My sister was recently diagnosed with Schizophrenia. It's a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease that we don't know a lot about. The movie, A Beautiful Mind, paints an accurate picture of how the disease affects someone in a best case scenario. I would like the vast audience here to help me understand the disease through experiences and that it might help me aid my sister. If you know someone who has the disease, how has it affected your and their life? How have you been able to cope with it? What are the long term implications for quality of life?"

http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?s...tid=191&tid=99

[ May 21, 2004, 23:46: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]

[Renegade 13]

Narf: I must say, thank you for sharing your experiences. It has encouraged me that there is indeed hope for depression. You mentioned medication: I really do not like taking medication. I prefer to let my body or my mind cure me. I don't want drugs that dull my mind, or artificially manipulate my body chemistry. However, I realize that this isn't always possible. You also mentioned willpower. That's the way I usually control my depression. I usually just....decide that I'm not going to be depressed. I don't know how to explain it, but within a few days of forcing myself to not be depressed, I go back to my normal, non-depressed self. However, this time, it isn't working for some reason. We'll see how it goes. As for psychiatrists, I really don't want to tell anyone my problems, or have anyone analyze me.

Dogscoff: I thank you sincerely for your encouragement. I also hadn't realized that constant tiredness was a symptom of depression, but now that I think about it, it makes sense. As for meds, well, my opinion on that is stated above.

RD: You have my sympathy for your schizophrenia. I know it doesn't mean much, and it doesn't help, but its true. Also, as you probably know, I agree with your opinion of medication to control problems. Sometimes they create problems of their own.

And I thank you all for reading this, and for your encouragement. It means a lot. I know that this isn't an easy subject for anyone to talk about.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

I would try any medication for at least three months before giving up on it, unless it had obvious and bad side effects. I do want to get off the meds, but I've relized that they help a lot.

[Will]

Originally posted by Renegade 13:
As for psychiatrists, I really don't want to tell anyone my problems, or have anyone analyze me.

I wouldn't immediately rule out a psychiatrist. Most psychiatrists now work on the theory that the best person to analyze the patient is the patient. What they are there to do is provide an objective third party view on your thoughts, and to help you understand them. Once you understand your thoughts, it is easier to change them. But it all really does depend on who you go to. Like RD, it may take going to a few different ones to get one that works for you.

And dogscoff is right about taking care of yourself. If you are strict about eating correctly and exercising every day, it does wonders.

[Raging Deadstar]

Originally posted by Renegade 13:
As for psychiatrists, I really don't want to tell anyone my problems, or have anyone analyze me.

Yeah i can understand that one. I felt exactly the same, and i think when someone says "Psychiatrist" people get those goosebumps and the stuff conjured up in films appears.

It is a bit hit-and-miss, the first two i saw i really couldn't click with, it was awkward to the extreme. But the third one, Stuart, i really get on with. It's all confidential and they won't force you to take medication or anything, even if they feel it is needed (at least not in the UK) If you can feel comfortable talking to them sometimes it can even be fun, god knows i've had some interesting discussions with mine, and usually they don't ask about your "problems" all the time. If you can find one on your wave length then you'll feel comfortable talking to them. I've been seeing the one i have for 2 years now and i'd count him as a friend.

And thanks Tyrel (if it is your name??? you signed your first post with that lol) for the sympathy, although i really don't see it as a "disease" anymore. It can be hellish at times but it's been with me for 4 years, it's shaped who i am so it's brought good as well. Imagine, i might never had started playing SE4 if i'd never developed it.

[ May 22, 2004, 14:48: Message edited by: Raging Deadstar ]

[Gandalf Parker]

Even before I got to the end of it I was guessing 17. It reminded me way too much of me at 17. Not to belittle or anything but it seems like its a teen thing kindof like chicken-pox and measles are 6-9. Circumstances are probably different and can be disastrous but the dark cloud feels the same. For me I think it eventually turned out to be a good thing to have gone thru then rather than later (kindof like chicken pox and measles)

Whats fun is to do some personal dark-cloud poetry or music at an assembly and discover how many peers are feeling the same way. Surprisingly its often the ones you were using as comparison for how bad off you were. And you find out they were doing the same to to you, thinking you were the example of doing great compared to their sucky lives.

Sorry for the "old guy" viewpoint. Feel free disregard.

[ May 22, 2004, 15:54: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[Imperial]

I was diagnosed with clinical depression baack in 2000. I am not crazy, But I had a lot of atypical behavior, thaughts, and feelings. I went to see a psychiatrist and then eventually to a councelor--and it is the best thing I have done. At first I didnt take medicine beacuse of the side effects--but they eventually all went away--now i take my meds daily and am fine. I hardly goto the councelor anymore--just mainly for reinforcement. I highly stress going to a doctor and to see a councelor as well. All your feelings etc will change and you will feel so much better--just remember that if you are prescribed medication to take it everyday (no excuses--dont forget) You will feel great and be able to cope much better.If you need to ask any questions just email me-- I know what your going through and how you feel.